Electric switch



(No Model.)

P. A. THUM. ELEGTRIC SWITCH.

W/ TNE SSE 5': IN VE N 70H Q4, flat-v. Mtg

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

I FREDRICK A. THUM, OF NElVARK, NElV JERSEY.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 501,173, dated July 11, 1893.

Application filed March 14, 1893. Serial No. 465,870 (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDRIcK A. THUM, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing in Newark, county of Essex, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to makeand use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in switches for electric light systems, and also to the method of connecting said switches with said lights and with the source of electricity.

The object of the present invention is to interpose in the circuits of two or more series of electric lights a switch, whereby the lights of one series may be connected or disconnected with the source of electricity, while the other remains in circuit; or the lights of the different series may be so connected, that they burn with full or diminished candle power without the use of resistance coils or apparatus.

The invention consists in the improved switch, its connection with the source of electricity and with the lights, and also in the arrangement and combination of the various parts, substantially as will be hereinafter more fully described and finally embodied in the clauses of the claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

in which like letters and figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in each of the several figures: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view, illustrating the switch connected with two series of lights; the switch being in a position in which all the lights are burning. Fig. 2 is a similar diagrammatic view, illustrating the switch in a position, in which only one series of lights is burning, while the other series is switched off. Fig. 3 illustrates in a diagrammatic View the switch connected to four series of lights, three of said series burning while the fourth series is disconnected. Fig.

i is an enlarged front elevation of the switch, the switch block being removed and turned over. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the switch,

the switch block being in position, and Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 0c0c of Fig. 4.

In said drawings (Figs. 4, 5 and 6) A represents the switch, consisting of a base plate 0 provided at each end with an upwardly extending portion 1), adapted to serve as bearings for the shaft or axle (1. On thelatter are fulcrumed the end pieces sof the switch block 0', which preferably is made semi-circular. The base plate and its upwardly extending projections and also the switch block 0" are made out of rubber, porcelain or any suitable insulating material. On the base plate 0 are secured parallel metal strips a, h, c and d, the two adjoining corners of each set being bent upward (alternately), and are adapted to form contact surfaces as clearly shown at 2, 3 and 4 in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings. At the under side of the switch block r are secured pointed or conical shaped contact plates 6, h and 1', adapted to be thrown into engagement with the contact surfaces 3, 2 and 4: respectively, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

On the inner side of one of the extensions p is arranged a spring plate 1;, provided with three corrugations, adapted to receive alternately the projecting knob to secured to the outside of the plate 8 of switch block 7'. Between the projecting portion 19 and the side plate 5 at the opposite end of the switch is interposed a spring u, adapted to press the switch block over and thus keep the knob to in one of the corrugations of the spring plates 11. A knob 25 or any other suitable handle is secured to about the center of the switch block.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, 1 have shown my improved switch connected with two series of lights. One series of lights, f, is arranged on the wires 5 and 6, which lat ter are connected with the metal plates 0 and a respectively. The other series, g, is arranged on the wires 7 and 8, connected with the metal plates (1 and b respectively.

The position of the switch in Fig. l is such, that the contact plate 6 rests between the contact surfaces (3) of the plates 1) and c. The current passes through both series of lights f and g, which are connected, according to the position of the swith indicated in Fig. 1-in series multiple, and are therefore burning with diminished candle power. WVhen the switch is turned over, that is to say, to a position, like the one shown in Fig. 3, the two series of lightsfand g (Fig. 1) are connected in multiple arc, and all lights are burning with full candle power. In the diagram, shown in Fig. 2, one series of lights is switched 01f, (the contact plate It rests between the contact surfaces of the plates a and 1),) while the other series is connected in multiple arc and is burning with full candle power.

In the diagrammatic view, illustrated in Fig. 3, the switch A is connected with four series of lights f, g, m, and 7t through Wires 6, 5, 7, 8 and m, m n, n in the following manner: The lights f, are connected by wires 6' and 5 to the metal strips a and c; the lights g through wires 7 and 8 to the metal strips 61 and b; the lights at through m, m with the strips 6 and d, and the lights through wires 'n n with the strips 0 and a. On the lines m and n are arranged switches M and N respectively. WVhen the switches M and N are closed and the contact plates h and t' in engagement with their respective contact surfaces, formed by the plates at and b, and c and d, the four series of lights are connected in multiple arc, and the lights will burn with full candle power.

When the switch A is turned, so as to make connection with the plates 1) and c (a position corresponding to the one shown in Fig. 1), the four series of lights are connected in multiple series, and the power of all the lights is equal to the square root of the total candle power. When one of the series an or n is switched off (by means of the switches M and N),the power of all the lights is equal to From the foregoing description, it can be seen, that by simply changing the contacts between the plates a, b, c and d, the candle power in the various series can be increased or decreased, without the interposing of resistance coils or apparatus.

The switch block 9', when moved to its respective position, is held there by the knob to, engaging one of the corrugations of the spring plate '11, and is controlled in its lateral motion by the spring u, as will be manifest.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with two or more series of lights, of a switch consisting of abase plat-e, four substantially parallel metal strips on said base plate and provided at opposite ends with upwardly extending contact surfaces, a segmental shaped switch block pivotally arranged above and at right angles to the said metal strips and provided with three contact points adapted to alternately engage the contact surfaces of the metal strips, and connections betweensaid metal strips and the series of lights, substantially as and for the purposes described. v

2. In a switch, the combination with the base plate, of fou r substantially parallel metal strips arranged on said base plate and provided at opposite ends with upwardly extending portions adapted to form contact surfaces,

a segmental shaped switch block pivotally arranged above and at right angles to the said metal strips and provided with three contact points, adapted to alternately engage the contact surfaces of the metal strips, and means for controlling said switch block in its various positions, substantially as described. In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 8th day of March, 1893.

FREDRICK A. THUM; Witnesses:

HENRY E. EVERDING, ALFRED GARTNER. 

